What should I eat or drink after a workout?

Good post-workout food choices include:
  • Yogurt and fruit.
  • Peanut butter sandwich.
  • Low-fat chocolate milk and pretzels.
  • Post-workout recovery smoothie.
  • Turkey on whole-grain bread with vegetables.
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What should not eat after workout?

Rule No. 1: “Avoid pure protein right after the workout, because your body will just use it as energy again,” says Collingwood. Also, steer clear of foods that are mostly sugar (cookies, candy and the like) or mostly fat like a handful of nuts (without yogurt or fruit to balance the fat) or fried foods.
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Should I drink immediately after workout?

You should also stay hydrated after your workouts. This is when your body can take up fluids the most efficiently. The American Council on Exercise suggests drinking 16 to 24 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost after exercise.
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What happens if you don't drink water after exercise?

Dehydration leads to muscle fatigue and loss of coordination. Without an adequate supply of water the body will lack energy and muscles may cramp. So, drink before, during and after a workout. Lean muscle tissue contains more than 75 percent water, so when the body is short on H2O, muscles are more easily fatigued.
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How many minutes after exercise can I eat?

Protein is necessary to rebuild muscles, while carbs will re-stock glycogen, or energy stores, in your muscles. Eating within 15 to 30 minutes post-workout is ideal, but if this isn't possible, aim for within 60 minutes. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a banana and plain yogurt are good, easy options.
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What to Eat Before and After a Workout



Should I have carbs or protein after workout?

Take Home Points. Your body needs carbs to fuel your working muscles. Protein is there to help build and repair. Get a combination of the protein and carbs in your body 1 to 4 hours pre-workout and within approximately 60 minutes post-workout.
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Do you need protein right after a workout?

In order to prevent the loss of muscle mass, you need to have protein readily available to help rebuild your tissue damage. Research shows that it's in the first few hours after you finish resistance training that your body is most receptive to using protein for muscle repair and growth.
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Is it OK to workout sore?

"Working out when sore is okay as long as it isn't affecting your movement to the point where it's causing you to compensate and do something in a way that's unsafe," says Dr. Hedt. "Muscle soreness can be a deterrent to exercising, but it's temporary and the more you exercise, the less you should feel it.
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What not to do after workout?

Avoid these eight mistakes after a workout:
  1. Forget to hydrate. ...
  2. You don't eat after your workout. ...
  3. YOU EAT TOO MUCH AFTER A WORKOUT. ...
  4. Forget to stretch. ...
  5. Not clean your space or rerack your weights. ...
  6. Think that fitting in a workout means you can be lazy the rest of the day. ...
  7. FORGET TO WASH YOUR SPORTS CLOTHES.
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Can I eat nothing after workout?

Just don't skip getting something into your system. “If you don't eat and drink after working out, you may start to feel fatigued or even hangry,” says Patton. “It's an important part of your recovery.” That quick bite should be followed a few hours later by a nutritious meal chock-full of carbs and protein.
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What fast food to eat after workout?

The 15 Best High-Protein Fast Food Meals You Can Eat
  • Mcdonald's Mcdouble. ...
  • Arby's Roast Chicken Entrée Salad. ...
  • Chick-fil-a Lemon Kale Caesar. ...
  • Wendy's Apple Pecan Salad. ...
  • Chipotle Salad With Chicken, Fajita Vegetables And Roasted Chili-corn Salsa. ...
  • Shake Shack Shackburger (lettuce Wrap) ...
  • Subway 6-inch Oven Roasted Chicken Sub.
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Is Gatorade good after a workout?

When a person exercises, they lose not only water but also electrolytes through their sweat. Gatorade, because of its electrolyte content, helps to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated, during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.
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What food helps muscle recovery?

Foods that help muscle recovery
  • Cottage cheese. ...
  • Sweet potato. ...
  • Watermelon. ...
  • Salmon. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Spinach. ...
  • Bananas. ...
  • Nuts and seeds.
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What protein is best after a workout?

Some classic protein-rich post-workout staples include eggs, turkey breast, grilled chicken, beef jerky, plain and unsweetened Greek yogurt, tofu, edamame (with soy being a terrific plant protein option), and even quinoa — a complete plant-based protein alternative that offers all nine essential amino acids to boost ...
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What happens if you don't take protein after workout?

Your body needs protein to build and repair tissues, so if you aren't eating enough, your muscles won't have the material they need to grow. You could feel “punch drunk” after working out, your arms and other muscles might ache more than usual, and your body may even feel generally weaker.
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Is it better to eat or drink protein after workout?

And you'll get more results from proper protein consumption throughout the day than you will from one well-timed protein shake after your workout. Why? Because the anabolic, or muscle-building effects of a meal last for five or six hours, not a mere couple minutes after a workout.
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What happens if you don't eat carbs after a workout?

When you exercise, carbs provide fuel for your workouts. If you exercise without eating carbs first — and you tend not to have enough of these macronutrients in your diet to have a substantial reserve of glycogen in your muscles —your body breaks down protein in your muscles for fuel instead.
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What carbs to eat post workout?

Here are the best carbs to choose for all of your post-workout needs.
  • Breads. Both whole and refined grain bread products are smart post-workout carb options. ...
  • Pancakes and waffles. Pancakes and waffles make excellent tasty post-workout meals. ...
  • Rice cakes. ...
  • Crackers. ...
  • Cereal. ...
  • Cream of wheat. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Rice.
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What should I eat after training at night?

5 Sleep-Friendly Foods to Eat After a Late-Night Workout
  • Yogurt. Most dairy-based foods are a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that your body uses to produce serotonin and melatonin, which both help induce sleepiness. ...
  • Almonds.
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Turkey.
  • Oatmeal.
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What happens if you lift weights but don t eat enough protein?

Lifting and doing strength training without adequate nutrition, especially without enough protein, can actually lead to loss of muscle tissue. Furthermore, if you aren't eating right you won't have the energy to do the workouts that lead to muscle gain.
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How long after working out do you see results?

While seeing results from working out heavily depends on the person and their current level of fitness, "My [clients] generally see initial changes within four to six weeks, and actual results within eight to 12 weeks," Wilson explains.
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What is post workout meal?

Ideally, following exercise we want to consume 2-4 grams of carbohydrate for every gram of protein we take in, along with fluids. This should be consumed ideally within 1 hour of intense exercise lasting at least 1 hour. If your exercise was less intense or of a shorter duration, refueling may not be necessary.
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